PLENTONG, Johor – The Peninsular Malaysia Regional Pastoral Assembly 2024 (RPA2024), held from Aug 25 – 27 at the MAJODI Centre, brought together 427 participants, comprising of clergy, religious, and laity from the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur and the Dioceses of Malacca Johore and Penang. The assembly also welcomed two observers from East Malaysia and seminarians from College General Seminary in Penang.
The assembly featured keynote addresses presented in three parts each day based on the RPA’s theme. Celebrating, Listening, and Walking in a Spirit of Communion, Participation, and Mission. The speakers, Archbishop Julian Leow, Bishop Bernard Paul, and Cardinal Sebastian Francis, each highlighted different aspects of the Church’s journey in Peninsular Malaysia.
The event concluded with a presentation of “Counsels,” which emerged from the discernments of the participants through the “Conversations in the Spirit,” on the areas of four pastoral concerns. They are on the areas of Family, Church, Ecology, and Society. At the RPA2024, the participants were invited to discern and contemplate together the journey and direction of the Semenanjung Malaysia Church, to listen deeply to God’s voice, and commit to walking together in mission.
Day One: Celebrate
Archbishop Julian Leow, the prelate of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, inaugurated the assembly with a keynote address centred on the theme Celebrate. He invited participants to reflect on the Church’s journey from 1976 to 2024, noting that this was the sixth such gathering since the Aggiornamento in 1976. The archbishop highlighted both the milestones achieved and the challenges overcome during this period.
Drawing from personal experience, Archbishop Julian shared an anecdote from his time in Taiwan, where he completed a marathon despite a swollen ankle, using it as a metaphor for the Church’s perseverance through difficulties. He emphasised that celebration is not only about recognising successes but also about acknowledging the challenges overcome, the unity forged, and the faith that has sustained the Church through difficult times.
The archbishop outlined several key areas for celebration, including the evolution of Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs), the Church’s mission to make Christ known in an ever-changing world, and the importance of unity amidst diversity. He expressed gratitude for the peace, prosperity, and faith the Church enjoys but urged vigilance in safeguarding these blessings while continuing to innovate and grow. Archbishop Julian also called on the participants to embrace the future with hope and determination, reminding them that the Church’s nearly 50-year journey is a testament to its resilience and unity.
The archbishop also noted that there is a marked difference with the RPA2024 as opposed to the past Peninsular Malaysia Pastoral Conventions (PMPCs) or that we might even be tempted to see it as PMPC-V. He said, “the difference is we are coming together in preparation for MPC in 2026,” and that, “These findings from our RPA will then be collated and brought to the MPC in 2026.”
Day Two: Listen
On the second day, Bishop Bernard Paul of the Diocese of Malacca Johore delivered a keynote address focused on ‘Listening’. He distinguished between merely hearing and truly listening, explaining that while hearing is a physical process, listening involves the heart and mind. He described listening as the beginning of love and the foundation of fellowship, both with God and others. He emphasised that true listening is a divine grace that allows individuals to hear God’s voice and act from a place of love, courage and trust.
The bishop highlighted the Biblical tradition of listening, tracing it through history of the Church and noting its significance in the Malaysian context, particularly following the Second Vatican Council. He stressed the importance of inclusive listening, reminding participants of the thorough surveys conducted across all the arch/dioceses, which laid the groundwork for the assembly’s discussions on Church, Family, Society and Ecology.
Bishop Bernard expressed some concerns on pastoral orientations that may be self-serving to some aspect and challenged participants to reflect on their mission, asking whether the see their mission as part of God’s mission or if they are safeguarding a ‘silo mentality.’
The bishop concluded his address by encouraging participants to listen with their hearts and act in unity. He left the assembly with key reflections on discerning God’s voice, overcoming resistance and trusting their inner divine image.
Final Day: Walk
The final day saw Cardinal Sebastian Francis tying together the themes of Celebration and Listening, with a call to ‘Walk Together in Mission’. He framed the journey as a spiritual revolution, inspired by St John Eudes, who revitalised the Church during a time of corruption and despair in France. Cardinal Sebastian emphasised that walking together requires repentance, hope and deep reliance on the Holy Spirit.
He urged participants to walk together with confidence as they journey towards the Malaysia Pastoral Convention (MPC) in 2026.
Cardinal Sebastian also highlighted the significance of walking with the Universal Church, particularly with Pope Francis during his upcoming visit to Asia in September, and in preparation for the Jubilee Year of Hope in 20025. He called on the assembly to respond to the various calls to action from the Malaysian bishops, including the Malaysian Youth Assembly in 2025 and the 360th anniversary of College General Penang.
In concluding remarks, Cardinal Sebastian invoked the words of St John Paul II, “Let us remember the past with gratitude, live the present with enthusiasm, and look forward to the future with confidence.” He encouraged the participants to continue walking together as a synodal Church, committed to communion, participation and mission to prepare for the upcoming MPC by engaging in regular conversations in the Holy Spirit.
The Peninsular Malaysia Regional Pastoral Assembly has set the tone for the Church’s future in Malaysia. The messages from Archbishop Julian, Bishop Bernard, and Cardinal Sebastian, emphasising the importance of celebrating the past, listening deeply to God’s voice, and journeying together with determination and hope, will continue to steer the Church in Peninsular Malaysia as it faces the challenges and opportunities ahead. As participants return to their dioceses and parishes, the assembly’s discussions are poised to significantly influence the Church’s mission and vision, especially in the lead-up to MPC2026. – Herald Malaysia
